News and commentary on Caribbean culture, literature, and the arts

November 2, 2017November 2, 2017

New Issue: Caribbean Beat #148

A new issue of Caribbean Beat—the November/December issue (#148)—has a beautiful cover photo: a close-up of a tiny blenny fish emerging from its coral hideout. This edition of the magazine highlights some of the region’s most breathtaking dive sites:

Go deep: From coral reefs teeming with aquatic life to dramatic shipwrecks, from underwater canyons to sinkholes and caves, the warm waters of the Caribbean can boast some of the world’s most thrilling sites for scuba diving — like the six memorable locations in the following pages

The new issue also includes segments such as:

Datebook: Events around the Caribbean in November and December, from surfing in Barbados to Christmas celebrations across the region

Word of mouth: Why Jean-Michael Basquiat is a posthumous art star, how the Sunset Festival in Trinidad is changing Caribbean dance music, and where to end 2017 with a truly big bang: Paramaribo.

After the storm: In the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, here’s how you can help the islands most badly affected.

On Florida’s “Art Coast”: South Florida: famous for its beaches, its nightlife, its shopping and entertainment. But the stretch of golden coast between Miami and Fort Lauderdale should also be famous for its fabulous art scene and world-class museums, says Samantha Rojas.

Mahaica Dawn | Offtrack: Southeast of Georgetown, the lower Mahaica River runs through rice paddies and vegetable fields, but the intact native vegetation along its banks is a refuge for numerous birds and other wildlife. Janette Bulkan and John Palmer head out on an early-morning boat trip, encountering dozens of Guyana’s colourful bird species.

Pasito a pasito: Daddy Yankee and Luis Fonsi | Backstory: The Caribbean musical hit of 2017? That’s “Despacito”, the steamy song by Puerto Ricans Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee, which has been breaking records all year. Nazma Muller investigates its runaway success, and explains why “Despacito” has roused controversy for more than its lyrics [. . .]